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Update: Truck Drivers at Odds Over Facts in Halliburton Convoy Ambush
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ShareOctober 03, 2006 8:00 PM
Since ABC News reported on Preston Wheeler's first-hand account of a Halliburton truck convoy ambush last week, another truck driver who survived the attack has come forward to dispute Wheeler's allegation that the military abandoned the truck convoy after it came under insurgent fire.
Rick Wynne, the "bob tail" driver who helped rescue Wheeler, says that the convoy's military escorts fought "toe-to-toe" with the insurgents. "Nobody would have made it out of there alive without them," says Wynne.
Wheeler says that while he is grateful to Wynne for pulling him out of his truck, he doesn't know the whole story. "He only knows a portion of what happened. He was three-quarters of a mile back in the convoy," says Wheeler. "He didn't see what I saw."
Home video taken by Wheeler during the attack shows the military escort riding in front of him driving away after his truck was disabled.
Two unarmed Halliburton truck drivers were executed at point-blank range after the military escorts at the front of the convoy left the scene, according Wheeler.
"I never said that all of the Army left us, but the gun truck in front did leave. It is in the video," says Wheeler. "Say what you want to about me, but I felt the men's families need to know the truth."
The Army says that the Virginia National Guard troops on the scene followed standard operating procedure to "get out of the kill zone" and did not abandon the convoy.
Click here to read the Army's full response.
October 3, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (26)
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There was a gun truck behind the convoy. If you get to see the full video you can clearly hear a .50 cal going off. The only reason why Wheeler was alive because of that escort in the rear. Unfortunately they were not able to save the guys that got hit in the lead of the convoy. All the interviews he made it seem like all the soldiers took off. Why did he not acknowledge that there was rear support that stay behind? Sounds like him and the media are purposely trying to stir up a controvesy. Wheeler was probably regretting that he didn't carry a weapon even though company policy said he couldn't. Like a dummie he listened. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Soldier | Oct 8, 2006 5:25:54 AM
To Dave.....Amen Brother!
Posted by: Proud wife | Oct 10, 2006 12:31:26 AM
Where was the Bob Tail, why did it take 45 mins. to get to Wheeler? Local laws, military laws, hell where is Contractors laws, where the hell is OSHA?
Yes civilian are taught to get out of the kill zone, but military are taught to never leave their comarades behind! Brothers first, SEMPER FI
Sandy,
Were you this bob tailer on this convoy who left his brother to die?
Posted by: Bufflo Bill | Oct 10, 2006 12:45:58 AM
there is some serious ignorance going on in this forum....too much conjecture....leads to hate. all posters of personal ignorant views need to get busy and get all the facts. If you're too lazy..or busy to get the facts, you're really not entitled to an opinion. Yeah free speech...good stuff, however, it's the refuge of many very stupid people.
Posted by: corinne | Oct 18, 2006 7:21:48 PM
I'm a driver for KBR in Iraq and all the gun trucks STILL don't have radios! Having done this for a few months I feel safe saying that the escorts don't really seem too eager to put up a fight on our behalf anyway. Most of them I've met act like it's a chore to protect the convoys and they'd rather be doing something else. Like sitting at the M.W.R. playing XBOX or looking up stuff online. Can't really say I blame them. And also I've yet to have a real breifing by the military before a convoy. 43 missions and I think it might have happened a couple of times and not much was discussed. Mostly they just put the pedal to the metal and we struggle to keep up in worn out, poorly maintained trucks.
Posted by: Dan | Dec 13, 2007 2:24:27 AM
We all know that it was a terrible lose and the people that were there know what happend being a driver myself I know that a convoy can stretch out for (3)three miles or more and when under fire wheather it be small arms or RPG`s and truck go down and block your way the trucks behind are to go around the down truck and the Bobtail is the one to pick the down driver up with the help of the rear escort
Posted by: TWIGGY | Mar 25, 2008 12:31:32 PM
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